From: Margaret Weertz [mailto:weertzm@aol.com]

Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2015 2:22 PM

To: School Board

Cc: Fenton, Christian; Dean, Jon; Fannon, Rebecca; cindypangborn@gmail.com; Lois Valente (valentl@gpschools.com); 'Daniel Roeske' (roesked@gpschools.com) (roesked@gpschools.com); summerb@gpschools.com; Ahmed Ismail (ahmed.ismail@comcast.net); gafaj@gpschools.com

Subject: Re: E-Mail Postings/Resolution

 

Ms. Gafa,

I am ok with Mr. McMullen's request to make public all emails since January because, in essence, this was the start of our term. Should this be an official vote of the board though?

Margaret

 

Sent from my iPhone

 

> On Apr 11, 2015, at 5:26 PM, School Board <SchoolBoard@gpschools.org> wrote:

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: George McMullen

> Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2015 11:25:48 AM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time

> (US & Canada)

> To: School Board

> Subject: E-Mail Postings/Resolution

>

> Dear Grosse Pointe Public School System School Board

>

> Hope all is well and so far the Superintendent search at least from

> this residents point of view gets an A+

>

> But I digress from the reason for my note

>

> I wanted to write about the resolution passed  by a 6-0 vote at the

> March 13th school board meeting about posting e-mails that are sent to

> more than 3 board members by a board member on the GP School districts

> web site (see attachments above)

>

> Attending the meeting I quite frankly was a little skeptical about the

> resolution. I liked the concept but there seemed to be an issue for

> administration (adding more work when technically we are supposed to

> be educating students) and how many would be posted would it be of

> benefit to the community was it worth the effort etc etc

>

> But as I review the e-mails and there is now some history to go by (although not a lot of time has passed ) I believe it’s a wonderful policy. As Trustee Summerfield stated and I paraphrase “it’s not going to be a million e-mails” and thus far it hasn’t been. I review them constantly and from what I have heard in the community it appears that they are being reviewed and the policy is well received.

>

> Also I attended the policy committee meeting recently and there were

> many positive discussions on the issue..so it appears it’s here to

> stay

>

> It has had the unintended benefit for me of the feeling of being closer to the board and more involved in the process. Further it’s has added to the overall discussion of various issues and allows me more information to prepare more for meetings and have a more focused public comment based on better information.

>

> I believe it also makes our system the leaders in transparency above

> and beyond many districts in the state and perhaps Nation

>

> In short I love it

>

> My request and not now but perhaps when the budget is complete and the

> new Superintendent is seated that the board expand the policy and make

> it the postings of e-mails retroactive to the beginning of the current

> board to January 1st 2015

>

> Also I’m very sensitive to adding additional work for administration

> so I hope that is a consideration…and I have not heard any feedback

> from administration on this additional task assigned to them..I’ll

> leave that to you to determine

>

> I believe it would be wonderful for the community and for the board to set a tone the is beyond the transparency expected and dictated by the state.

>

> If I may be of help in this request please do not hesitate to contact

> me on this issue I will be following up after the current priorities

> are set and completed

>

> Yours in service

>

> Geo

>

> George  R. McMullen Jr.

> 1382 Hollywood Ave.

> Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

> 48236

>

> Phone: (313) 886-9959

> Cell: (313) 549-6363

> E-mail: george@grmcmullen.net<mailto:george@grmcmullen.net>

>

> <GP School board agenda 3.16 .2015.pdf> <GP School board Resolution

> 3.16.2015 .pdf>